Why should aggressive rubbing be avoided in hypothermia treatment?

Why should aggressive rubbing be avoided in hypothermia treatment?

• A. It raises arrhythmia risk
• B. It can cause skin burns
• C. It worsens dehydration
• D. It increases metabolic demand

Answer: (A)

Aggressive rubbing is avoided because the heart becomes extremely irritable when body temperature is low, and vigorous mechanical stimulation can trigger dangerous heart rhythms, especially ventricular fibrillation. As core temperature falls, cardiac conduction slows and electrical instability increases; rubbing or rough handling acts as a stimulus that can precipitate life-threatening arrhythmias, a leading cause of death in severe hypothermia. Therefore, treat with gentle handling and controlled rewarming using warm blankets, external warming devices, and warmed IV fluids with careful ECG monitoring. While skin injury is a concern in other cold injuries, the primary risk during hypothermia treatment is the potential to provoke an arrhythmia.

Aggressive rubbing is avoided because the heart becomes extremely irritable when body temperature is low, and vigorous mechanical stimulation can trigger dangerous heart rhythms, especially ventricular fibrillation. As core temperature falls, cardiac conduction slows and electrical instability increases; rubbing or rough handling acts as a stimulus that can precipitate life-threatening arrhythmias, a leading cause of death in severe hypothermia. Therefore, treat with gentle handling and controlled rewarming using warm blankets, external warming devices, and warmed IV fluids with careful ECG monitoring. While skin injury is a concern in other cold injuries, the primary risk during hypothermia treatment is the potential to provoke an arrhythmia.